Download ENERGY SOURCES AND TRANSFORMATIONS

ENERGY SOURCES AND TRANSFORMATIONS
1. When operating, ordinary incandescent light bulbs produce a lot of heat in addition to light. Fluorescent light
bulbs produce much less heat when operating. If you wanted to conserve electricity, which type of bulb should
you use? Explain your answer.
2. Coal is burned in a power plant that produces electricity. A light bulb is turned on in a house that is miles
away. Describe the energy transformations involved.
Toy Car
3. What energy transformations and forces influence this battery-powered toy car? Explain your answer fully.
4. Windmills are used to convert wind energy into a more useful form. In most cases, there are three steps in
this process. The energy is in a different form at each step. Which of the following flowcharts shows the most
likely order of the energy changes?
a. wind energy
mechanical energy
b. wind energy
thermal energy
c. wind energy
solar energy
d. wind energy
mechanical energy
solar energy
mechanical energy
electrical energy
electrical energy
5. A bicycle is a composite of several simple machines. Describe where these simple machines are found on a
bicycle: lever and pulley.
6. Which of the following objects acts as a lever when pulling a nail?
a. hammer
b. head of nail
c. board
d. point of nail
7. Which of the following aspects of electromagnetic radiation best explains why electromagnetic radiation is
both useful and harmful to humans?
a. Electromagnetic radiation travels at the speed of light.
b. Electromagnetic radiation can travel through a vacuum.
c. Electromagnetic radiation is energy and can interact with matter.
d. Electromagnetic radiation can be described in terms of both wavelength and frequency.
8. Raul’s little sister, Sarah, wants to know why she can see herself in a mirror, but she can see through a
window. What should Raul tell his sister to explain the differences between mirrors and windows?
9. Which of the following choices best explains why grass on a distant hillside appears green?
a. Grass reflects all colors except green.
b. Grass absorbs only green light from the sun.
c. Grass reflects green light more than any other color.
d. Grass transmits green light in the same way that green-colored cellophane does.
10. The setting sun often appears red. What is the best explanation for this?
a. The surface temperature of the sun is lower at sunset than at other times of the day.
b. The Earth’s atmosphere scatters blue light, so that at the Earth’s surface mostly red light is visible at sunset.
c. The path of light through the Earth’s atmosphere is shorter at sunset than at noon.
d. The surface of the Earth changes infrared radiation into red light.
ASTRONOMY
11. How long would a complete day (day and night) on Earth be if it did NOT spin on its axis?
a. 24 hours
b. 1 month
c. 3 months
d. 1 year
Tides
12. The time at which high and low tides occur changes by about 50 minutes each day. Which of the following
best explains this occurrence?
a. The ocean currents delay the tides.
b. The prevailing winds act in opposition to the tides in most areas.
c. The moon is not in the same position relative to the Earth each day.
d. The pull of the sun slows down the cycle.
13. Why does the moon have a greater effect on the tides than the sun?
f. The moon is larger than the sun.
g. The moon is solid while the sun is gaseous.
h. The moon rotates more quickly than the sun.
j. The moon is closer than the sun to the Earth.
14. The Earth and the moon have both been struck by many meteors which have created craters on their
surfaces. Explain fully why most of the moon’s craters are still visible while most of the Earth’s craters are
not.
The planets move at different speeds and require different amounts of time to circle the sun. The following
graph shows the number of Earth days it takes for each of the four planets to move around the sun once.
15. Based on the graph, which of the following is true?
a. The farther a planet is from the sun, the longer it takes for the planet to move around the sun.
b. The closer a planet is to the sun, the longer it takes for the planet to move around the sun.
c. The smaller a planet is, the longer it takes for the planet to move around the sun.
d. The larger a planet is, the longer it takes for the planet to move around the sun.
16. Star A and star B are observed in the night sky. Star B appears brighter than star A. The reason that a
star appears brighter from Earth does not depend on its
a. distance from Earth.
b. surface temperature.
c. size.
d. altitude and azimuth.
17. The color of a star provides a measure of its
a. size
b. mass
c. composition
d. surface temperature
18. Stars in the universe
a. are solid like planets.
b. generate some form of energy.
c. are approximately the same temperature.
d. were all formed at approximately the same time.
19. Which best describes the changes occurring to the Earth’s surface over time?
a. New mountains are being formed as old mountains are gradually worn down.
b. Mountains are gradually being worn down, but no new ones are formed.
c. More mountains are gradually formed as the oceans recede.
d. New mountains are only formed under the oceans.
20. Why is an earthquake more likely to occur in California than in Connecticut? Explain your answer fully.
21. If the locations of earthquakes over the past 10 years were plotted on a world map, which of the following
would be observed?
a. Earthquakes occur with the same frequency everywhere on Earth.
b. Earthquakes generally occur along the edges of tectonic plates.
c. Earthquakes most frequently occur near the middle of continents.
d. Earthquakes do not seem to occur in any consistent pattern.
22. The Pacific Ring of Fire is a belt-shaped region that roughly coincides with the seacoasts bordering the
Pacific Ocean. Explain why volcanic activity and earthquakes occur frequently in this region.
23. Igneous rock and sedimentary rock can be transformed into metamorphic rock by similar processes. Explain
these processes.
24. Which of the following features best indicates that a valley was changed by a glacier?
a. its width
b. its length
c. its height
d. its shape
25. It is harder to read the wording on very old tombstones than it is to read the wording on newer ones. This
difference is most likely a result of:
a. dirt filling in the letters;
b. modern tombstones being made of artificial materials;
c. weathering of the stone; or
d. slow crystallization of the stone.
26. Of the following statements, which best supports the continental drift theory?
a. All oceans are salty.
b. Igneous rocks are found on all continents.
c. Fossils of the same species of extinct land plants have been found in both South America and Africa.
d. Early humans migrated to North America over a land bridge from eastern Asia.
27. The diagram above shows a cross section of rocks beside a highway. Which rock type is the oldest?
a. rock type 1
b. rock type 2
c. rock type 3
c. rock type 4
METEOROLOGY
28. The MAIN source of energy for wind currents on Earth is
a. lightning.
b. heat from the sun.
c. the moon’s gravity.
d. heat from Earth’s interior.
29. Describe how water in the lake can become snow on the mountains in the system shown in the diagram.
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water between the Earth’s surface and its atmosphere. An
illustration of the water cycle is shown below.
The following processes play important roles in the water cycle:
• evaporation - the changing of a liquid to a gas;
• condensation - the changing of a gas to a liquid; and
• precipitation - the process of depositing water in liquid or solid form.
30. What type of energy drives the water cycle?
a. wind
b. mechanical
c. solar
d. chemical
31. Airline pilots flying high in the sky sometimes report snow falling outside their aircraft, while down on the
ground there is no precipitation falling. Which of the following best explains what is happening?
a. The snow condenses to a liquid before it hits the ground.
b. Evaporating water in the air forces the snow back up into the clouds.
c. The snow melts and evaporates before it hits the ground.
d. Water condenses on the snow, forming new clouds.
32. In which part of the water cycle are dissolved solid impurities separated from the water?
a. Cloud formation in the atmosphere
b. Precipitation from the clouds
c. Evaporation from the ocean
d. Water flow from the lake to the ocean
33. What is the main cause of water evaporation from the ocean?
a. Wind and wave action along the shore
b. Currents in the ocean
c. Heat energy from the ocean floor
d. Heat energy from the Sun
34. Explain how clouds can form as air rises. You may draw a diagram as part of your explanation.
The next two questions refer to the following chart.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
( F)
High
Temperature
43
50
42
53
60
(o F)
Low
Temperature
28
38
28
39
45
Precipitation
(inches)
0.0
1.0
1.5
0.0
1.6
Average
Wind Speed
(mph)
15
10
7
10
10
o
35. Based on the weather data in the table, on which day was snowfall most likely to have occurred?
a. Monday
b. Tuesday
c. Wednesday
d. Thursday
36. On which day was the average windchill temperature likely to be the lowest?
a. Monday
b. Tuesday
c. Wednesday
d. Friday
37. In the system shown above, the prevailing winds blow from the ocean toward the mountains in September.
In June, however, the winds blow mostly from the mountains toward the ocean. In which month, June or
September, would the farm get more precipitation? Explain your answer.
38. Further inland, on the continent, just beyond the mountain range shown in the diagram from the previous
question there is a desert that receives very little precipitation. Give an explanation of why this desert
receives such a small amount of precipitation.
39. As a consequence of global warming, coastal areas could:
a. be flooded as ocean levels rise;
b. become further inland as ocean levels recede;
c. get cooler due to more water in the water cycle; or
d. sink as the land becomes less stable from changes in the ocean water;
40. One major contributor to global warming is an increased amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If
the number of living plants significantly increased,
a. global warming might get worse because of the increase in carbon dioxide caused by plants;
b. global warming might be reduced because of the decrease in carbon dioxide caused by photosynthesis;
c. global warming might get worse because of the increase in oxygen caused by plants; or
d. there might not be a noticeable impact on global carbon dioxide levels.
EARTH'S NATURAL RESOURCES
41. Explain how waste that is deposited in a landfill can contaminate nearby water sources. (MO)
42. Which of the following is a renewable resource?
a. wood
b. aluminum
c. oil
d. quartz
43. In general, less energy is needed to produce a product from recylced material than from new material. This
is one reason why we should recycle. Another reason to recycle is because
a. recycling reduces the amount of resources available for our use.
b. recycling reduces the amount of waste that is burned or buried in landfills.
c. our natural resources occur in unlimited amounts.
d. increasing the amount of fossil fuel burned decreases environmental pollution.
44. Referring specifically to the system shown in the diagram above, explain why fresh water is a natural
resource that is renewable.
45. Which of the following energy sources is the best example of a nonrenewable resource?
a. coal
b. wind
c. water
d. sunlight
46. All of the following are considerations when planning a nuclear power facility EXCEPT
a. emission of chemicals that produce acid rain.
b. disposal of radioactive waste.
c. thermal pollution of surrounding waterways.
d. location of earthquake fault zone.
47. The country of Iceland uses geothermal energy as a primary source of heat. Hot water is pumped from the
ground and used to heat most of Iceland’s homes and businesses. What is the source of the energy that
produces the hot water?
a. magma within Earth’s crust
b. the insulating effect of snow and ice
c. warm water from the Gulf Stream
d. friction caused by continental drift
FORCES AND MOTION
48. This graph contains information about the motion of a bicycle. At which of the following times is the
bicycle’s acceleration zero?
a. 1 second
b. 2 seconds
c. 4 seconds
d. 8 seconds
Centuries ago the British physicist Sir Isaac Newton stated three laws that describe the ways in which things
move. These are Newton’s three laws of motion:



The first law: Unless acted upon by an outside force, a body at rest tends to stay at
rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion.
The second law: Acceleration is equal to the net force acting on a body divided by its
mass.
The third law: For every action force there is an equal and opposite reaction force.
A driver starts her car and steps on the gas pedal. The car gradually accelerates to 50 km/hr. A few minutes
later, the driver suddenly slams on the brakes to avoid hitting a box in the road. As the car comes to a stop,
the driver’s body appears to lurch forward in the seat until it is restrained by the seatbelt.
Use the following graphs to answer the next two questions.
49. Which graph best matches the motion of the car described in the paragraph above?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
50. A student rides her bicycle from her home to the library. She stays there for a while and then goes to a
friend’s house. Which graph best matches this situation?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
Modern automobiles are tested for collision safety using models of human beings often called crash test
dummies. These "dummies" are actually quite "smart." They are often fitted with sensor devices that can
record their motion and force of impact during an automobile collision.
51. When the car accelerates from a standing start, the crash test dummy appears to be pressed backward
into the seat cushions. Which of the following best explains why this happens?
a. The crash test dummy gets lighter as the car accelerates.
b. The car is moving forward faster than the crash test dummy.
c. There is no reaction to the force of the car taking off.
d. Gravity is pulling the crash test dummy in the direction the car is moving.
52. A car reaches 80 kilometers per hour, then suddenly crashes into the concrete wall. Without a seat belt,
the crash test dummy slams into the car’s dashboard because
a. the crash test dummy’s kinetic energy drops to zero.
b. the dash is pushed backwards into the crash test dummy.
c. the momentum of the car is being transferred to the crash test dummy.
d. the car has stopped, but the crash test dummy is still moving forward.
53. This test paper is sitting at rest on your desk. Which of the following statements best describes this
situation?
a. There are no forces acting on your paper.
b. Your paper is at rest in any coordinate system.
c. Your paper exerts no force on the desk.
d. There are several forces acting on your paper, but they balance each other.
54. The moon has a smaller mass than the Earth. If you were able to travel to the moon your weight would
a. increase.
b. decrease.
c. remain the same.
d. vary from day to night.
55. If you were able to go to the top of a tall building and simultaneously drop an apple and a basketball, they
would both hit the ground at about the same instant because
a. the force of gravity on them is equal.
b. they have the same mass.
c. air resistance on both is the same.
d. they have the same amount of kinetic energy.
56. A balloon is rubbed with a piece of cloth. As a result, the balloon has a negative charge. What has
happened?
a. Electrons have moved from the inside to the outside of the balloon.
b. Positive charges have traveled from the balloon to the cloth.
c. Electrons have moved from the balloon to the cloth.
d. Electrons have traveled from the cloth to the balloon.| F:
57. Static electricity happens when electrons pass from one object to another, such as from your hair to a
comb as you comb your hair. If you then hold the comb near your hair, strands of hair appear to move forward
and "stick to the comb." The hair and the comb
a. attract each other because they have the same charges.
b. attract each other because they have opposite charges.
c. repel each other because they have the same charges.
d. repel each other because they have opposite charges.
58. To double the current through a resistor in a circuit,
a. double the voltage across the resistor.
b. double the resistance of the resistor.
c. double the voltage across the resistor and double the resistance.
d. double the resistance and decrease the voltage across it by half.
Jeff used a multi-meter to test the current and resistance of a variable resistor and plotted the results on
the graph below.
59. The graph shows that current
a. increases when resistance decreases.
b. decreases when resistance decreases.
c. increases when resistance increases.
d. doubles when resistance increases.
60. Which statement about plant and animal cells is true?
a. Plant cells have a nucleus and a cell wall; animal cells do not have either of these structures.
b. Plant cells have a cell wall and chloroplasts; animal cells do not have either of these structures.
c. Plant cells have a cell wall and a cell membrane; animal cells have a cell wall but not a cell membrane.
d. Plant cells have chloroplasts and mitochondria; animal cells have chloroplasts but do not have mitochondria.